"Given
the burden of pain in terms of human lives, dollars, and social consequences,
actions to relieve pain should be undertaken as a national priority," the
report's authors wrote.

Managing pain is possible

The
good news is that most pain is temporary. Acute pain will typically subside as
an injury heals. Even chronic pain is manageable long term. However, both types
of pain — either from injury or disease — may require tailored treatments,
procedures or medications. The key is getting help and keeping an open mind.

When to seek help for your pain

"I
would say if you're having pain thatis not related to a direct injury, allow your body to
rest for one or two weeks. If it doesn't
get better, you need to see someone," Dr. Nashi said.

The
most common complaints Dr. Nashi treats are lower back pain, neck pain and knee
injuries. These types of pain typically require physical therapy, soft tissue
injections, nerve blocks and other non-surgical treatments, but some may
require surgery.

Other types
of pain, such as nerve pain related to diabetes, cancer related pain and other
chronic diseases may require pain management through medication.

The case for cognitive behavior therapy

When
managing pain over the long term, Dr. Nashi recommends a multimodal approach which
includes cognitive behavior therapy, physical therapy, injections and a
judicious use of medication, saying these methods help "keep people
functional."

"There
have been a lot of studies showing higher dose opioids have long-term damaging
effects and really no substantial benefits," she said. "The lowest
effective dose should be used and intermittent use is OK for chronic pain. If people fully participate in the treatment
plan then as a team we can typically manage their pain more effectively and with
less medication. In some instances, it is really about empowering people so
that the pain no longer controls them.”

Roadblocks to recovery

Dr. Nashi
said pain management can be difficult when something has been causing pain for
years. It can also be a challenge when
patients are unwilling to try certain treatments.

"I may
recommend physical therapy or an epidural for someone with back pain and
they'll tell me, 'No, I don’t have time or I'm scared of needles.' I have to
ask them, 'How do you see yourself getting better?' It's best when you allow
yourself to have options and keep an open mind."

Dr.
Nashi said she's committed to helping her patients return to a normal life, but
they bear some responsibility for their own recovery.

"I'm
definitely willing to go above and beyond to find the root of the problem, but long-term
relief might require some concerted effort on the patients’ part," she
said. "They may have to do therapy, or take their medication, or be willing
to have procedures that are beneficial to them."

Hope for the future

While
chronic pain may feel overwhelming at times, Dr. Nashi said her message to
those who experience it is this: There's always hope.

"A
lot of people are hopeless when they come to me," she said. "And it's
our job as pain physicians to bring hope to the hopeless."

If
you are in chronic pain, you can find help and hope by visiting TriHealth. You
can find
a location online, or call 513-246-7000 to schedule an
appointment. Their pain management experts can help you find a treatment plan
that can guide you toward relief.